resmed airsense 10 power problem

[user123]

Well,
After about a year and a half in, finally starting to tolerate mask.
Unfortunately, problems not resolved much -- frustrating, as AHI looks great since day 1 (Average 1..

Anyways, main reason posting is...
Friday, the machine would not turn on. Troubleshooted, and the green light is on the adapter, but the power switch keeps only flickering momentarily, then dead.
Called DME, and had to wait to today to speak to someone. I thought this was a medical necessity, yet, the client has to wait over the weekend at a min?
Called Resmed, and no one can speak directly to technical support except DME. I asked, what if I bought out of pocket? No one, but DME, according to them.

Anyways, last night, I just played with the buttons for a while, trying combinations, and lo and behold, found if I held down for a few minutes it was back on.
However, the response is not always reliable. I am still waiting for a call back, and figured if it is 2 year full warranty, I do not want a fix, but would rather have it replaced.

Did find a few similar threads on older resmed units (s8?). Anyone, experience this with airsense 10, and did they fully replace or try to fix?

[greatunclebill]

first of all, unplug it from the wall, unplug the adapter from the power cord and unplug the adapter from the machine. then plug it all back into a different outlet. does it work after that? electricity is funny. sometimes things look plugged in but don't have a good connection or lose their connection.

[user123]

Yeah, retired EE. I pretty much know the rudimentary troubleshooting steps. Looking for more device and some specific experience. Thanks

[juaquin]

Is it the brick or the machine? You said you're a retired EE, so if you're desperate and it's the brick, you can hook up any properly rated 24V supply, 3.3v supply, resistor, and the right connector. The 3.3V and resistor are just to signal to the machine that you're an "official" ResMed supply

viewtopic/t156100/Homebuilt-12V-Convert ... se-10.html

If the problem is inside the unit, I think you're going to have to push for a timely replacement, unless you want to probe the internal circuit board.

[user123]

Hi Juaquin,

Thanks for the suggestions. I mentioned that I can get it on by pressing combinations for a long length of time, and the adapter always has a solid green light, but not the unit itself, which is a very brief flicker until I hit the right combo. Thinking it best to try to facilitate return, as I don't want to mess with the warranty. And for this to happen in just over a year, and no way to talk directly to RESMED tech support without DME gatekeeper intervention, really adds to the not so great experience so far.

I'm suspecting it's a well known power switch issue, as in the several S8 threads I've found here.

[palerider]

I'm suspecting it's a well known power switch issue, as in the several S8 threads I've found here.

About the only connection between the S8 and the Air10 is the name of the manufacturer.

[greatunclebill]

It's pretty obvious no one here has had the same exact problem. You already know resmed doesn't deal with end users. If you got it thru a dme what haven't you brought it back to the dme so they can get it fixed or replaced. It's really the only path to getting something done.

[user123]

@greatunclebill, if it was obvious, I would not waste time asking. But it was worth a try.

Finally was able to make appointment, and in the process of driving two hours to first have the dme tech inspect and hopefully approve of a return. Not always as smooth as one would think on the surface. As I said, for a device that is supposedly a medical requirement, I'm a bit miffed at the manufacturer bureaucracy, slowness of response ,and time to get replaced...For the price the insurance paid, one might expect better.

[greatunclebill]

@greatunclebill, if it was obvious, I would not waste time asking. But it was worth a try.

Finally was able to make appointment, and in the process of driving two hours to first have the dme tech inspect and hopefully approve of a return. Not always as smooth as one would think on the surface. As I said, for a device that is supposedly a medical requirement, I'm a bit miffed at the manufacturer bureaucracy, slowness of response ,and time to get replaced...For the price the insurance paid, one might expect better.

It's never a waste of time asking. I meant the lack of replies said nobody had the same problem or answer. the medical equipment industry is really no different than other industries as far as lack of good customer service is concerned. from cars to furniture to tv's you have to go to the dealer and wait for them to repair or replace. one time my dog ate thru the electric blanket electric cord. it is impossible to buy just a new cord from that company. you need to box up the entire electric blanket with broken cord and ship it to the manufacturer. they will then send it back with a new cord and charge you whatever for the new cord and their trouble. it was easier for us to just buy a new electric blanket.

good luck.

[LSAT]

@greatunclebill, if it was obvious, I would not waste time asking. But it was worth a try.

Finally was able to make appointment, and in the process of driving two hours to first have the dme tech inspect and hopefully approve of a return. Not always as smooth as one would think on the surface. As I said, for a device that is supposedly a medical requirement, I'm a bit miffed at the manufacturer bureaucracy, slowness of response ,and time to get replaced...For the price the insurance paid, one might expect better.

Before I would drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back, I think I would spend $30 and try a new power supply
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Resmed-Airsens ... :rk:1:pf:0

[glg1949]

I just started having what I believe is the same problem with my Airsense 10 CPAP. It sometimes would say that the power connection was loose, and would not run the humidifier. Sometimes it would not power up, but there is a brief flash of light from top power LED when I unplug it.

Sometimes it works perfectly!

My neighbor next door passed away last month, and his widow gave me his CPAP machine, which is the same model. My sleep doctor's CPAP supply person told me how to reprogram the settings for my prescription, and I have been using it for a week or two. Now it is doing the same thing!
But I have two machines and two power supplies (plus I ordered a camping one that runs off 12VDC battery/power supply). I have not been able to isolate any unit as bad--I can mix and match power supply and Airsense machines.

Of course, I have changed insurance companies since I got the machine, and it is just past the 2 year warranty period.

I'm not a EE, but I started in that before switch to computer science, but I am an Extra Class Amateur Radio license. So I can do electronics.

What was the resolution of your problem when you took it in for service?

[LSAT]

Have you checked the outlet in the wall where you are plugging in the machine. Often they get loose and will not hold a plug tight.

[glg1949]

LSAT wrote: Have you checked the outlet in the wall where you are plugging in the machine. Often they get loose and will not hold a plug tight.

Yes, I have used different outlets and 3 different power supplies--two regular 110VAC units that come with the Airsense, and the 12 VDC camping power supply as well (connected to the power supply of my ham radio transceiver). I have also checked the voltage with my Fluke meter: 122.9 VAC. I have moved the CPAPs to another room with other outlets as well.

Sometimes they work--sometimes not. No rhyme or reason that I can find.

I'm interested if anyone has taken one in for service and had a resolution. User123?

[Dog Slobber]

Two nights in a row, I got a similar message about a loose power connector.

I discovered that the power chord was getting pinched between the base of surface the CPAP was on and the headboard. The chord just reached the machine but had no wiggle room.

After moving the chord up and giving a nice loop, problem has happened since.

Unlikely, that you're having the same problem, but so too is you having the the same issue with two devices, two AC power chords, and one DC power chord.

[glg1949]

Well, I decided that it was probable that the power connector was intermittent, and the unit was not getting the 3.3V signal. The firmware was refusing to start if it could not see the 3.3V when first plugged in. When unplugging, the light on top would flash momentarily, so it had 24V power to run the light.

If it loses the 3.3V signal while operating, it give the message that the cord is loose and shuts down the humidifier.

I replaced the power connector with a sturdier one, and it worked perfectly at least once so far! (My warranty had expired anyway, and who wants unreliable medical equipment anyway?) We'll see how it does long term, but at least I can rule out the connector.